[ despite her own talent for performance, Rudbeckia is utterly hopeless at reading others for any emotion besides those in the realm of hostility, and so she finds herself puzzling over Gu Yun's intentions as she follows his lead through the maze. the contrast between his demeanour and his tone doesn't escape her; it's the motivation she wonders at. is he asking this unimportant question to put her at ease, or because he truly doesn't care about their surroundings? is it just confidence, or is it deliberate façade?

either one seems dangerous for her. ]

Not that I'm familiar with. [ it's genuinely difficult for her to give a certain answer—worldbuilding was never the novel's strong suit, whether she was reading it or living it. for all she knows, there were people throwing fireballs on the other end of the continent, and she simply didn't hear about it in the three years she spent as Ruby. ] Where I'm from, the only magic that people can use is holy power, and only paladins or priests learn it.

[ she talks about it in the vapid, airy tone of voice one would expect of a princess who has never had to care about such things. ]

I suppose demonic monsters would be considered magical too, in a different—... [ a frown comes over her expression and her head whips around. ugh, the mirrors. but: ] Did you hear something, signore?

[ the sound seemed barely more than an unintelligible whisper; there's every possibility it was only the ice. it had felt familiar, nevertheless. ]